IHG Urges Russian Visa Relaxation

InterContinental Hotels Group – is calling on the Russian authorities to relax entry visa restrictions after its highly successful handling of the UEFA Champions League final.

IHG COO Robin Wicks says the speed at which Russia processed visa’s for 50,000 fans proved the system could be over-hauled.

“Russia’s current visa process is simply far too slow and is seriously hampering the emerging tourist trade,” he says.

“By adopting similar measures to those used for the Manchester United and Chelsea fans, the volume of tourism traffic could dramatically rise.”

IHG operates six hotels in Russia, with a further ten in the pipeline.

By staff writer